Yes, I know I’m late, and I apologize. I’ve been working CRAZY hours this week, not that that’s any excuse to neglect you all. Sorry

Anyway, how’s everyone enjoying the lovely fall weather? I’m love, love, loving it! Nothing beats the crisp air and beautiful colors.

So, I’ve been stalling. I’ve a confession to make. In the past, I’ve not been a fan of historicals, and have even sneered and curled my lip when someone mentioned them. Friends of mine say to me that I should try this book or that book, and I’d pause then say, “But it’s a historical.” Like it was vile and evil, and you know what? I used to think it was. Yes, you heard me correctly I used to.

For the longest time the only historicals I would read were those of Sarah McCarty’s Promise series–LOVE THEM. Then I was introduced to Lisa Kleypas with the Wallflower series, loved those as well. And now I’m reading Julie Garwood historicals and really, really loving them. So far I’ve read four of them (The Bride, The Wedding, Honor’s Splendour, and The Secret) and I seriously can’t get enough. I’m going to work through Ms. Garwood’s back list and then we’ll see what gem in the historical pile I can find next.

Needless to say… I’ve gotten over my prejudice against historicals. In fact, I now consider myself a fan. So, please, forgive my prejudice.

How about you? Have you ever thought “Eh, not going to like that so I won’t read it” only to try it at some point and end up finding out you really DID like it?

P.S. Anybody have some recommendations for historical books featuring Scottish lairds/highlanders (besides Garwood)? They seem to be my fave thus far. Well, and western historicals. Sigh. Cowboys!

Let’s welcome another of Laura’s lovely authors, Marie Sullivan Force!. She
just finished another single-title contemporary and has been writing with the goal of publication since 2004. She’s been represented by Laura since March. She has a MS out on submission now, so let’s all cross our fingers for her! Marie lives in Rhode Island with her husband of 15 years, a daughter 12, a son, 9, and a dog named Consuela who is 15 and the only one in the house who doesn’t talk back to her. I can so relate, Marie!! By day, she is the director of communications for a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit where, among other things, she serves as editor-in-chief of a national trade magazine. I’m thinking her day job is pretty darn interesting too! Thanks, Marie, for taking the time to guest blog! And good luck on your road to publication!

And now, let’s hear from Marie about perseverance.

This past summer, my family took a ferry from the fishing village of Galilee to Block Island, a fabulous throwback to the simple life located off the southern coast of Rhode Island. While we were waiting to leave on the ferry, I wandered with my eight-year-old son to the rail so he could get a closer look at the fishing boats. Glancing down to my left, I noticed a single boat sharing the pier with the ferry. The name of the boat? Perseverance.

Did I take it as a “sign”? Hell yes! Since I’m Irish and superstitions run my life, there was no way this message from above was going to slip by me without a moment to celebrate the confirmation—in the form of a smelly fishing boat—that I’m on the road I was meant to take.

What keeps us going, through the physical process of writing a novel—and it is physical as much as mental—through the editing and revising, through rejection, and through long, endless months of waiting for something, anything, to happen?

As I pondered this topic, I recalled a particular event that kept me going when I was three-quarters of the way through the overwriting of my first novel. I had run out of steam, enthusiasm, and worst of all, belief that I could actually do this. A friend took mercy on me and offered to read it. I sent it to her and tried not to think about the real person who was out there somewhere reading the book of my heart.

After a few days of silence, I figured she was struggling with how to let me down gently. Then she e-mailed me first thing one morning to tell me the damned thing had kept her up half the night—on a work night, no less—and she had to know the ending. I was told to get my butt back in the seat and finish that book! I often wonder if I ever would have finished it without the early-morning message that lit a fire under me. The right words at the right time, and I’ve never looked back.

Do you let non-writers read your work? If not, consider this: Writers read to critique. “Civilians” can bring insight to your process by providing the reader perspective. I wrote my second novel because almost everyone who read the first one wanted to know more about one of the characters. I resisted at first. I was done with those people! But as I took the ax to the overwritten tome over the next few months, the sequel idea percolated. I decided to give it a whirl and ended up with not only a sequel but also a part three that sprung from number two. This three-part series that started everything remains my proudest accomplishment as a writer.

Recently, there was a great discussion on an RWA loop about perseverance. A fellow writer had received three rejections on the same day and was standing on the precipice, towel in hand. Rallying around her, we reminded her that every one of those rejections has value. If she were a general marching down the battlefield, each rejection would represent a star or bar or ribbon on her chest, each of them validation that she is a working, professional writer.

Through all the ups and the downs, through the endless waiting and hoping, the only thing I know for sure is if I give up on my dream of seeing my books published it’ll never happen. The people I’ve met on the journey, those “signs” that crop up from time to time, and the moments of sheer magic that happen on the computer when everything comes together just the way I imagined it—these are the reasons I write. They’re also the reasons I persevere.

What are your reasons? What right words at the right time have kept you focused and motivated?

It took me a while but I finally realized something about myself: the more I push myself to write, the less productive I am. I need to let it flow freely, what wants to come out, how much wants to come out rather than set a specific word count for the day and then chastise myself when I don’t meet it.

A while back I was working on a witch story but I was totally stuck, I mean completely. I had no idea what was next, where it was going, or a lot of the necessary information to make this story work. And I berated myself. I was feeling down because I couldn’t get it to work. The one day it came to me… the story wasn’t ready, yet I was pushing myself to make it ready. Never a good thing.

So, I wised up. Put the witch story on the back burner and decided to write what was foremost in my mind. That was the best thing I could have ever done because the story I’m working on now is coming without any difficulties. When I sit down at the keyboard the words are just there, the scenes are vivid, and I can feel the characters. This is what I needed.

Now, while I’m writing this book, my subconscious has been working on the witch story/plot and I’ve almost got it. I’m just one detail away of having it ready which is great because that means when I’m done writing what I’m working on now, I will be ready to go back to the witches story with confidence and knowledge of all the details. Thank goodness.

I see myself doing this in my everyday life as well, pushing myself and then getting backed into a corner because I’m not ready to go that far yet. So, while learning my strengths and limitations in writing, I’ve also learned to apply that to life. It’s not an easy task let me tell you, but one feat I vow to overcome.

They’re so easy to miss, but do you have any habits/routines that unsuspectingly sabotage your finishing a task/job or have a negative impact on your life?

It’s a rainy Friday here, but behind the rain is a lovely cool front bringing in much more tolerable temperatures. Yay! It seems fall is almost upon us. I so love fall.

Right now I’m reading Nalini Singh’s Caressed By Ice and next up is Janelle Denison’s Born To Be Wilde. I just love her Wilde series, and Ms. Singh’s Psy-Changeling world is phenomenal. Paint It Red by Carla Cassidy will be up after that, and then recommended-to-me book The Lightning That Lingers by Sharon and Tom Curtis which is an older book but recently people have been raving about, so I have to see what the hype is about. I’m so nosy.

After that I think I’ll start Tara Janzen’s Crazy series. It’s been on my shelf for so long and I really need to just read it. Same goes with Suzanne Brockmann’s books. A friend sent me a box full of her SEAL books and everyone raves about them. So, I can’t help but wonder, what’s holding me back from reading them? Fear of the unknown? Fear of not liking something everyone else does and being different? I’m not sure, but I’m going to get past it and just read them.

So many books I’m looking forward to coming up. JD Robb’s Creation In Death and Dead of Night antho, Sarah McCarty’s Caine’s Reckoning, An Enchanted Season antho with Nalini Singh, Wicked Deeds On A Winter’s Night by Kresley Cole, Sealed With A Kiss by Carly Phillips, Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts, and Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You by Judith McNaught to name a few… and that’s not including ebooks either!

So, what about you? Have you been putting off reading books on your shelf? Do you know why? What books are coming up that you’re looking forward to?

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

PS- My mini-contest/Plea For Help will be ending tomorrow, so if you want in, stop on over at Great Scotts!

I’ve been reading a variety of books lately–some older favorites and some new-to-me authors.

I read my first YA book, Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer, and loved it. Great storyline. I’ve got the second one, New Moon, on by TBR shelf as well as her latest, Eclipse.

I reread a bunch of Linda Howard’s works: Mr. Perfect, Against The Rules, Strangers In The Night (3 stories in 1 book), White Lies, and Open Season. Great books from an amazing author.

I’ve also just started reading some paranormals from Christine Feehan, the Drake Sisters. So far I’ve just read the first one featuring Sarah and Damon in the anthology Lover Beware but I really like it. And also within this anthology is Only Human from Eileen Wilks, I think this is the first book in her series featuring Lily Yu. I’ve been meaning to read these for a while now. I’m glad my library had this anthology! My library rocks.

What have you been reading? Anything good? Have you tried any new authors? Have you reread any older titles from authors you just adore?

P.S. I’ve got a mini-contest going on over on Great Scotts! Head on over and check it out!

Jeez it’s been a long week, huh? TGIF for sure.

Soon the kids will be back in school and won’t the peace and quiet be lovely? My kids don’t start until after Labor Day so I’ve got 10 days, and let me tell you, I’m counting down. But most places around the US go back to school earlier. Some go back the Wednesday before Labor Day (which our schools did last year). I guess I can’t see the reasoning to going back to school on that Wednesday, for 2-1/2 days, then having the three-day weekend, then back to school for 4 days. It always baffles me.

And what’s with the back-to-school lists? We never had lists when I was a kid, at least not like the ones they have now. It’s insane! When my kids were in grade school and middle school it would always cost me $150+ to get their back-to-school supplies. Now that they’re in high school it’s not nearly as bad and THANK GOD they don’t have lists unless they take specific classes that call for “extras.”

So, my countdown has begun. Ten days til my kids go back. How about how? Are you counting the days? When do your kids go back to school? Or have they already? Do you have supply lists? And what do you think of that?

They say confession is good for the soul…

I have a confession to make. It may shock you and it may make you laugh, but it’s an obsession that I can’t deny, one I can’t live without. I love sheik books. Yes, yes, it’s true. There’s something about a tall, dark, and handsome man riding up on a horse in the middle of the desert with his kaffiyeh and robes blowing in the breeze that turns me on. Sigh. No one does sheiks like Susan Mallery, and she’s got a sheik book coming out in November, The Sheik and the Christmas Bride. Yay me! (Stop laughing Lauren)

I know some of you are like, “What?! Sheiks? ” and that’s okay, because that’s how I feel about cajun men. That whole chere thing and the way they talk just turns me off, and I mean right off. I absolutely, positively cannot stand that lingo. I’m not sure why, but that’s how it works for me, and I know for a lot of you it’s the complete opposite, and that’s great! Because if we all liked the same thing the world would be a very boring place.

My second confession may not be as shocking but I also like reading category. You know, the stories with “virgin” or “baby” in the title. Yes, it’s true. I enjoy a good Silhouette Special Edition or Silhouette Desire. Love them actually. The whole billionaire bachelor having an affair with his secretary or coworker, vowing not to ever fall in love, but ends up head over heels. Oh yeah. Love it. My absolute faves are the reunion stories and the friends-to-lovers stories. It doesn’t get any better than that. Seriously.

So, there. I’ve confessed to you my secret desires. (heh heh) Do you enjoy sheiks? Cajuns? Category romance? If so, what are your favorite themes? Come on, ‘fess up. We won’t tell.

The end is near… no, not the Elvis song. The end of summer! And thank God for that! I don’t like the heat and humidity, despise it in fact. Right now it’s so darn hot and humid I am longing for snow! I tell you this summer has been a scorcher, but thank Heaven the end is near.

How do I know the end is near? The kids are starting to go back to school. (And another thank God for that!) That’s a sure-fire signal that the ned of summer is close… so close I can taste it. Now, when I was younger I LOVED summer, not the heat but the freedom that came with it. I remember and long for the days when I could sleep till noon, laze around all day, and no homework or work. Oh, those were the days, weren’t they?

I figure there’s another 1 to 1-1/2 months of this insipid heat and then we’ll get the lovely cooling temps and the beautiful changing colors signaling another change of season. Fall is my favorite season, not only because it signals the end of summer and the end of my insane electric bills when I can finally turn off the AC (heh heh) but because it’s so pretty. The reds, yellows, oranges, browns, purples, greens, etc. Gorgeous and my favorite time of year.

What about you? Do you like summer? Are you a fan of the heat? Or are you like me and can’t wait for the heat to dissipate? What’s your favorite season?

I learned a lot that day. I started a different story, one that is complete in my head, and that very day, within 4 hours, I cranked out 1229 words. I learned that I need to write what comes from the heart, from deep within… what I want to write rather than what I think will sell. I also learned that whether or not I sell, writing is something I love, and damn it, I’m good at it and I’m not giving up!

Earlier this week I was blog hopping, and on one of the blogs that I frequent and author asked the question, “if you could meet any writer, past or present, and talk to them about their stories, who would you choose? What would you say?”

Well, I picked two… so I cheated a bit. I chose Nora Roberts and Susan Mallery. I would love to talk to Nora about her writing processes, her stories, and life in general. Just hang out and chat it up. And I think meeting Susan Mallery would be a blast. I’d like to see if she’s as witty in real life as she is in her stories (I bet she is). I’d like to sit around and talk about stories, life, and sheiks. She writes the best sheiks evah. Yes, I said sheiks. I love them. I can’t deny it, but that’s another post unto itself.

So, there are my choices… If you had the chance to meet one author, to sit down and talk with them one-on-one about anything and everything, who would you choose?What would you talk about?